China develops its E-2C: JZY-01 fix-ed wing ship-borne AEW demonstrator

john70

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Posted July 29, 2012 by admin in China Military News


China develops its E-2C: JZY-01 fix-ed wing ship-borne AEW demonstrator | China Defense Mashup

2012-07-28
The images of JZY-01 demonstrator have indicate that China has mounted an early warning radar on a Y-7 cargo plane, which is smaller than the Y-8, and is using it for aerial reconnaissance too. The Y-7 weighs 21 tons and is similar to the U.S. Navy's E-2 Hawkeye and can be loaded on a carrier.

Besides, comparing JZY-01, Z-8 is still a backup rotocraft platform to become AEW helicopter for Chinese navy's aircraft carrier project.

A bar-shape array radar is installed outside the real cabine door of this Z-8 helicopter. Some analyzers believe that this sensor can provide low-to-medium altitude early warning for task fleet or even carrier strike group. In June 2009, Richard Fisher once reported that PLA is also known to be developing carrier combat support aircraft, that initially could focus on airborne early warning (AEW) and anti-submarine versions of the Changhe Z-8 helicopter.

Jiang Feng of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies said, "The objective of China's Navy in building an aircraft carrier is to bolster its aerial combat capabilities in the ocean that is crucial in protecting naval fleets. It is an inevitable trend to bolster maritime air combat capabilities and boost the capacity for three-dimensional strategies."


 

john70

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Some highlights of PLA-AF Airborne Early Warning & Control Programs :

China is apparently using its new KJ-200 AWACS in the navy, as well as with the air force. The KJ-200 entered service in the Chinese Air Force four years ago, and export versions sell for about $145 million each. China has had to develop its own phased array radar for it.
In addition to the 54 ton propeller driven Y-8 (which is based on the Russian An-12 and U.S. C-130) AWACS, there are versions using the, 21 ton Y-7, and 157 ton Il-76 jet. But all these AWACS versions are apparently considered less reliable, and more expensive to maintain, than the twin engine, 79 ton, Boeing 737-800.
Six years ago, the Chinese Air Force realized it was not happy with its first four IL-76 AWACS (A-50s from Russia, converted to use Chinese KJ-2000 radar systems). This led to a smaller system carried in the Chinese made Y-8 aircraft (as the KJ-200). Eventually, as an experiment, the Chinese began outfitting a Boeing 737-800 airliner as an AWACS aircraft. There was apparently never more than one of the 737 AWACS. Even though these work much better than other versions, the U.S. bans the militarization of civil aircraft in Chinese service. Rather than risk more American embargos, the Chinese have held off proceeding with the 737 version.
China has also equipped its 21 ton, twin engine, Y-7 transport with a phased array radar similar to that used on the larger KJ-200 AWACS. The Y-7 is a Chinese copy of the Russian An-24. The Y-7 AWACS would be similar to the U.S. 23 ton E-2 that operates off carriers. The Y-7 was thought to be a version that could operate off China's coming fleet of aircraft carriers. But the Y-7 is also cheaper, and better suited for equipping more air force units with AWACS capability.
The Y-8 turboprop transport based KJ-200 carries a flight crew of five and a mission (AWACS) crew of about a dozen. The aircraft can stay airborne for about seven hours per sortie. The KJ-200 radar has a range of about 300 kilometers, and the computer systems are supposed to be able to handle 5-10 fighters at a time, and keep track of several dozen enemy targets.

KJ-200 AEW&C system in flight (image © 2009, Zhenguan Studio).



The KJ-200 or 'Y-8 Balanced Beam' AEW&C prototype (Via Internet).



Production ZDK-03 AEW&C system, dubbed the Karakorum Eagle, one of four systems exported to Pakistan on the late production Shaanxi Y-8 airframe. The unusual camouflage is modelled on the USAF MC-2A proposal and is optimal for high altitude ISR aircraft (PAF).




The Y-8 (An-12 Cub) AEW&C prototype using a conventional radar and rotodome. This design was exported to Pakistan, as the ZDK-03, on a new airframe (via Internet).
 

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